Cole Perfetti, the 10th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, has made things official by signing his entry-level deal with the Winnipeg Jets. The deal is a standard maximum three-year entry-level deal, with a cap hit of $925,000 per season. There’s a maximum average annual value of up to $1,658,333.
#NHLJets have agreed to terms with 2020 first round pick (10th overall) Cole Perfetti on a three-year, entry-level contract with an average annual value of $1,658,333!
DETAILS ➡ https://t.co/Xdwhu3DeHR pic.twitter.com/rFcBmYEB1R
— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) November 9, 2020
Cole Perfetti Inks Entry-Level Deal
Perfetti became the crown jewel of the Winnipeg prospect pool when he was picked in the first round just last month. In his draft year with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, the skilled forward netted 111 points (37 goals, 74 assists) in just 61 games.
Perfetti is expected to spend the entirety of next season in the OHL, so due to entry-level slide, it’s unlikely that his entry-level deal will start this season. The Jets can defer the start of his deal via entry-level slide for two seasons unless he plays more than nine NHL games in a single campaign.
While there’s very little negotiation power in an entry-level deal, this is still a great short-term value proposition for the Jets. Perfetti could very well be a staple in Winnipeg’s top-six forward group by the conclusion of this deal. That’s especially since there seems to be a natural changing of the guard in Winnipeg behind Mark Scheifele, given Bryan Little‘s career uncertainty due to injury and the single year remaining on Paul Stastny‘s contract. Perfetti will challenge for that no. 2 centre spot by the time things are all said and done with this entry-level deal. His emphasis on possession dominance and stellar playmaking makes him an ideal candidate to play alongside Patrik Laine if he’s kept in Winnipeg. This signing overall represents an important step towards the future for this hockey club.
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